Astros sign former UH star catcher Snyder

The Astros are trying to bolster their catching corps with some home-grown talent.

General manager Jeff Luhnow announced Friday that the Astros have signed Houston native Chris Snyder to a one-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2013. The Astros have not yet announced the move they’ll have to make to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Snyder, who starred at Spring Woods High and the University of Houston.

Snyder, 30, has a career .231/.333/.394 batting line (average/on-base percentage/slugging average) in seven-plus seasons in the major leagues, with 70 home runs and 243 RBIs in 1,846 at-bats. Snyder had spent an anxious couple of months on the free-agent market after his 2011 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates had been cut short because of a herniated disk in his lower back. He joins a rebuilding Astros team that has only two other catchers on the roster – former first-round draft choice Jason Castro, who missed last season because of knee surgery, and veteran Humberto Quintero.

“I couldn’t be happier,” said Snyder said. “It’s been a wild offseason – a lot of stress, a lot of uncertainty. But as of today, it’s all washed away.”

Snyder had a productive .271/.376/.396 line through last June 8 before undergoing back surgery. He said he is feeling no ill effects and expects to be a full speed when Astros pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 19.

“Everything’s great,” said Snyder, a second-round draft choice of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002. “If you want to count rehabbing, I’ve been working out since July. As of right now, it’s a normal offseason for me. I’m working out, getting stronger, hitting, throwing, catching bullpens. There are no restrictions, and I’m looking forward to putting a jersey on and getting out there.”

The signing of Snyder fits in with Luhnow’s theme of trying to improve an offense that ranked 13th in the National League in runs scored (615) and 15th in home runs (95) last season. Luhnow traded for shortstop Jed Lowrie last month to replace departed free agent Clint Barmes and signed Jack Cust earlier this week to compete for a spot in the outfield.

What’s more, Snyder offers some security in case the left-handed-hitting Castro has any more physical setbacks. The Astros were counting on Castro to be the starting catcher last season, but he underwent reconstructive surgery on his right knee in March and had the sesamoid bone in his left foot surgically removed in December.

“You go into camp with two guys (at catcher), one guy gets hurt and you’re stuck,” Luhnow said. “We really felt like we needed another experienced major-league catcher to put in the mix. Snyder has a lot of what we were looking for. He really has demonstrated the ability both ways (offensively and defensively). We did our due diligence in terms of the medical and feel like he’s healthy and ready to go and could make a good contribution.

“It’s late (in the offseason), but we’re going to continue to find ways to get better. This was an opportunity for us to bring in somebody who has major-league value. Also, his reputation in the clubhouse is very strong.”

On top of three double-digit home run seasons in the majors, Snyder has the best fielding percentage in major-league history of anybody who has caught at least 600 games (.998). His 240-gaame error-less streak from August, 2007, to June, 2010, was the third-longest in history at his position. The Pirates’ 3.39 ERA when Snyder was behind the plate last season was well below the 4.04 overall mark.

Snyder, who set a UH record with 71 RBIs in 2002, has had seasons of 16, 15 and 13 home runs in the majors. The Astros’ season home run record for home runs by a catcher is 17, set by John Bateman in 1966. Now Snyder has a chance to call Minute Maid Park, where he has a .762 on-base-plus-slugging in 45 at-bats as a visitor, his home park.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Snyder, whose wife Carla is from Houston. “I was a big Astros fan growing up. With the state of where the team is right now, with the young kids on the team, a rebuilding process, moving pieces a round, I get the opportunity to come in and help out in whatever way on the field and off the field. To get the opportunity to get to do that for my hometown team is unbelievable.”

He joins a team coming of a 56-106 season, unsure of what his role might be. He isn’t, he said, the least bit worried about any of that that.

“I’ve been through such a rough year that all I’ve wanted was a jersey and an opportunity,” Snyder said. “I’ve got that. Now all that’s left is show up to spring training and do what I can do. My goal now is to show what I’m capable of during spring training, get to Opening Day, and off to the races.”